JMT Day 22- Woods Creek to Glen Pass to Bullfrog Lake Trail Junction

August 6, 2014

My legs felt tired this morning which made it hard to get out of my sleeping bag. We woke early to get a bit of a head start on the day as Tiphane's weather report said that storms were likely around 11:30. We wanted to get up and over Glen Pass ASAP. We climbed 1500 feet first thing out of camp and leap frogged with a group of boy scouts all morning. And actually, we passed a ton of boy scouts going the opposite direction as us, up until we started up Glen Pass. They were all wearing the same outfits: blue shorts, white t-shirts and red bandanas. I liked the 'Merica colors. How very boy scoutish of them!

Looking back towards the valley where we camped at Woods Creek last night

The sparkling Dollar Lake

We had beautiful views all day today. I took a ton of pictures! And had several "wow" moments as I drank in the scenery.

A distant view of Fin Dome

This scene was one of my "wow" moments: a perfect cascade with a perfect mountain backdrop. Wow.

The first of many incredibly beautiful views of Rae Lakes

We stopped at Rae Lakes for lunch which was gorgeous! My second favorite section on trail! As we were about to finish up lunch, Tiphane and Jackie Ray came by and said they had just seen a bear next to the trail! We missed it by about 15 minutes! Darn!

View from our lunch spot. Seriously!!

From the other side of Fin Dome

More Rae Lakes beauty

I called this the Wild Goose Island of the Sierras. Look at that water! Looks tropical in color!

After lunch we continued on past Rae Lakes, drank in the views and as we approached the beginning of the climb to Glen Pass, saw Tiphane and Jackie Ray who had stopped for a break. We continued on and started UP Glen Pass. Up. Steeper than Mather Pass! And way longer! We went up, up, up and then Daveed was wagging his tail thinking we were nearly at the top! Nope. False summit! Darn it! We stopped for a quick break to catch our breath. I took about 100 pictures as we went up Glen Pass because I couldn't believe how steep it was! The pictures of course do not convey the steepness, but man o man, it was steep and turned out to be the most challenging pass for me.

Rae Lakes as we started up Glen Pass

There was a lush, random meadow a few hundred feet up Glen Pass, with a serene little stream running through it

The steepness

The steepness!

False Summit!

As we went up the last couple dozen switchbacks, we passed an older guy who looked in rough shape. Both his shins were covered in blood and he was kind of talking to us nonsensical. He was saying he hadn't gotten any sleep  for 2 days, was out of water, didn't have any food etc etc and was pushing on to meet a friend up over Kearsarge Pass later that day... We were headed up and over Kearsarge Pass the next day so we were pretty shocked to hear he was headed there today. We don't know if he ever made it as we didn't see him again and we were camped at one of two trail junction options to get to Kearsarge Pass.

Looking up at the actual top of the pass

The steepness! The slight dip in the center is the knife's edge top of the pass

Two pretty tarns towards the top of the pass, the one on the far right has the coloring of glacial silt, like what we saw in Glacier NP

When we finally got to the top of Glen Pass, we were surprised to see how narrow it was. Quite literally a knife's edge. There was just enough space for the two of us to stand together to get our picture taken! If you took two more steps toward the south, you were already headed down! Thankfully there was a random guy at the top who took our picture. We stopped for a candy bar and some water and took in the amazing views to the south!!!!! We could feel Whitney getting closer!

Glen Pass 11,924 ft

Looking south from the pass

Looking back north from the pass

South, The Painted Lady

To the south

Much needed candy bar break at the top! These dogs are barkin!

We started down the switchbacks on the south side of the pass and before we knew it, were essentially at the bottom. The south side of the pass was really steep too! The really steep business was "shorter" but the uphill approach was very long.

Halfway down the steep switchbacks on the south side of the pass

Charlotte Lake

And then we round this bend above Charlotte Lake and BAM- this was our view!!

Huge Bristle Cone Pine, with Daveed used for scale

Center Peak 12, 725 ft (on the right) would dominate our views for the next 2-3 days.

We climbed 3000 feet today and then down 1500 feet. Woof. Our feet and legs are beat. Even Daveed, who really never complains of being tired, said his wheels were falling off the last couple miles to camp. Our last dinner and campsite with Jackie Ray and Tiphane was tonight. We head out to resupply in the morning and they continue on to Whitney in 3 days! Will miss their company but we're psyched to resupply and sleep in a bed tomorrow. And shower. Our only motivation tomorrow are these things! For food I have only oatmeal for bfast and 2 Clif bars for the rest of the day tomorrow. All other food has been eaten! Motivation is high to make it to the shuttle pick up on time! Food!

Camp at Bullfrog Lake trail junction, elevation 10,595 ft